Tech

7 Important 2022 Facts about Industrial Robots for SMEs

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2022

Are you an SME or startup looking at the possibility of deploying industrial robots in 2022? If so, then there is every reason to be excited about recent developments in industrial robotics. More than ever, SMEs can start looking at industrial robotics to solve their production challenges. Here is why.

1. Industrial Robotics Powering Industry 4.0

For five years, emerging robotics solutions for businesses have appeared on the annual Gartner hype cycle. Recent industry stats from different sources indicate that robot sales have increased in the past five years. Why is this?

There is consensus among industry experts that adopting automation solutions like industrial robots will feature heavily as industry 4.0 takes shape. The increased adoption of robots can be attributed to the emergence of low-cost solutions, SME adoption, and emerging robot applications.

These developments are good news for SMEs looking to catch up with big players or compete through automation. The industry 4.0 wave is centered around widespread automation. In 2022, SMEs will enjoy better access to cutting-edge industrial robotics, leading to higher adoption numbers in the sector.

2. Non-Traditional Applications for Industrial Robots

Traditionally, industrial robots have been relied upon in large-scale manufacturing industries like the automotive and assembly industry. However, recent developments show that new, non-traditional applications are emerging for industrial robots. For instance, logistics companies involved in e-commerce are turning to industrial robots to increase efficiency.

The expansion of application areas and adoption of industrial robots in the non-traditional sector can be attributed to new, more innovative industrial robots coming to market. New industrial robots are more versatile, meaning they can be used in various ways. Some are even made to be altered, moved around, or reprogrammed as operational needs change.

3. Industrial Robots are becoming Cheaper to Buy and Run

A decade or so ago, buying and running industrial robots was the preserve of the most prominent players with the financial muscle to purchase or lease them. This meant that smaller players such as SMEs who wanted to get into the industry and compete were disadvantaged. However, this will change as cheaper, more economical industrial robots made for the SME sector come to market.

Look around today, and you will see many emerging robotic solutions that cost not more than a few thousand dollars and cost even less to run. These new industrial robots are smaller, affordable, and consume less power than the mammoth industrial robots of the past. In 2022, we will see more of these showing up at industry events and tradeshows—time for SMEs to shop for industrial robots and compete.

4. Collaborative Robots Will Feature Heavily

Traditional robots are not made to be used in standard working setups . They require safety fencing and other installations to operate safely and efficiently. Most SMEs do not have the resources to deploy them because their operational configurations usually need human workers.

Collaborative robots are new industrial robots designed with safety and versatility, making them ideal for SMEs. Collaborative robots can be deployed alongside humans in typical working environments. They do not require safety fencing. Human operators can use them for very specialized operations, a step above standard work machines.

For the last few years, cobots have enjoyed adoption in the SME sector and will feature heavily in 2022. Already, traditional robot manufacturers have recognized their potential and gotten in on the act. Still, it is the smaller, new robot manufacturers winning. Consider buying a cobot if you will be shopping for industrial robots in 2022.

5. Robots Are Becoming Smarter and More Versatile

Most people don’t associate intelligence or versatility with industrial robots mainly because traditional industrial robots are designed to do one or two tasks. However, there is a demand for robots that can take advantage of AI and ML to be more efficient at what they do and more versatile.

Newer robots are likely to be more intelligent and support a more comprehensive range of applications. This is a welcome development for SMEs because it means they can use their robots in various ways to save costs. At the same time, intelligent robots are more efficient because they can refine their arm movements for faster task completion.

6. Robots Will Become Easier to Use and Program

The consensus among industry experts is that traditional robots are too complicated. Trained experts who usually charge high rates must install and program a conventional robot. According to the International Federation for Robotics, modern robots are user-friendly. We already see this with new cobots coming to market with simple graphical programming interfaces.

For SMEs looking for industrial robots, the ability to install, run and program industrial robots without employing expensive robot engineers is a welcome development. It means fewer costs, more freedom, and better experiences running industrial robots. Modern collaborative robots are made with human-centered design principles for ease of use and better experiences.

7. A Revolution at The End of Arm Tooling Space

Many see the end of arm tooling as the heart of any industrial robot setup because it is the part that does the actual work. Traditionally, most robot adopters had to design bespoke end of arm tooling to fit their configuration or pay the manufacturer to attach specific EOATs to their robots. However, this has changed in recent years as compact, versatile robots made for SMEs come to market.

There is a revolution in the EOAT industry where several manufacturers make all kinds of EOATs and sell them as individual products. From plastic molding EOATs to simple gripping tools compatible with general-purpose robot arms. If you need to do something with your robot, you can be sure that there is an EOAT out there that can do it.

A welcome development to look forward to in 2022 is the emergence of the so-called “open industrial robot.” These are robots compatible with the end of arm tooling from other manufacturers, much like computer peripherals are cross-compatible. Soon, you will be able to purchase any industrial robot arm and use any EOAT you buy or use custom 3d printed ones.

There is every reason to be excited if you are an SME or company looking to automate with industrial robots in 2022. We already see the fruits of industry 4.0 in the robotics industry, and you, as an SME, are at the center of it. Start looking around and attending upcoming industry events to see what is offered.

We advise SMEs shopping for industrial robots to pay close attention to what emerging players are showcasing. These smaller or new players bring innovative solutions made for SMEs like you.

Tech

AI in Placemaking: How ERA-co is Using Smarter Data to Build Better Cities

Published

1 month ago

September 23, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

ERA-co is exploring new ways to apply AI in urban design, utilizing data-driven tools to support more thoughtful and responsive placemaking. Rather than replacing human insight, the firm sees artificial intelligence as a partner — one that can enhance how designers understand and shape the spaces where people live, move, and connect.

This approach isn’t about flashy tech or fully automated cities. It’s about asking better questions, revealing patterns we might otherwise miss, and using that knowledge to make decisions rooted in real-world behavior. For ERA-co, AI becomes most valuable when it helps clarify how a city works, layer by layer, so design teams can create places that are not only efficient but also livable and meaningful.

Understanding complexity before optimization

Before talking about smart tools or predictions, ERA-co begins with a foundational question: “What kind of problem is a city?” Nicolas Palominos, Head of Urban Design and Strategy R&D at ERA-co, references the work of Jane Jacobs to frame this.

“As Jacobs reminds us, cities exhibit complex system behavior, where multiple elements vary simultaneously, in subtle interconnected ways,” Palominos explains. “AI can augment our understanding of these parameters to design better places with optimized social benefit.”

According to Palominos, that kind of social benefit can take many forms. It might involve modeling a housing system that supports proximity-based living, such as the concept of the “15-minute city,” or applying predictive analytics to anticipate and respond to events like floods, heatwaves, or infrastructure failures.

ERA-co doesn’t use AI to chase efficiency for its own sake. Instead, the firm uses it to gain a more comprehensive understanding and a clearer picture of a place’s behavior.

Data that matches people, not just places

Not all data is created equal. When it comes to placemaking, ERA-co prioritizes what Palominos calls “spatial and temporal granularity,” which entails not only examining how a space functions on a map but also understanding how people interact with it over time — from hour to hour, and season to season.

“The most valuable data are those with the greatest spatial and temporal granularity for observing people and urban environments,” Palominos says. “Video footage, mobile data, street view imagery, and satellite imagery enable a deeper understanding of how different groups of people perceive and use public space.”

One recent ERA-co proof-of-concept used AI to assess how people visually perceive streetscapes, analyzing elements like enclosure, complexity, and human scale. These insights informed more nuanced design strategies that align with local behaviors, not just abstract zoning plans.

This level of detail matters because even small design shifts can have ripple effects on how people move, feel, and gather. With AI, ERA-co isn’t just tracking patterns but learning from them.

ERA-co’s AI mobility work: Subtle shifts, broader benefits

Some of the clearest applications of AI can be seen in mobility — how people and goods move through cities. It’s here that ERA-co sees measurable gains in both function and experience.

“AI-driven fleet optimization balances supply and demand in bus services and bike-share systems,” Palominos says. “On the consumer side, it streamlines courier and delivery services through route optimization.”

These systems don’t operate in isolation. When they’re better coordinated, they can relieve pressure on road networks, reduce congestion, and lower energy use. But what makes ERA-co’s approach different is that it doesn’t stop at logistics. It examines how those systems impact the daily lives of people who live in and move through a place.

The limits of AI and the role of design judgment

As much as AI can help us see more, ERA-co is careful not to let it make the final call. Cities are more than just systems — they’re layered with memory, identity, and human connection. And not everything meaningful can be measured.

“There have been cases where AI insights pointed us in one direction, but human judgment and cultural understanding led us another way,” Palominos notes.

Sometimes a place functions well on paper, but feels hollow in practice. Other times, a community gathering space might disrupt traffic flow, yet provide invaluable support for social well-being.

This is where design intuition becomes critical. ERA-co uses AI to inform, not dictate, the design process.

Planning for a future in flux

Looking ahead, ERA-co sees AI playing a growing role in helping cities adapt — not just to top physical threats like climate change, but also to slower, less visible shifts in how people live and connect.

“AI will amplify our understanding of how cities function through enhanced spatial representation and analysis, informing better human decision-making,” Palominos says. He references recent findings (like an MIT study showing people walk faster and linger less in public spaces) as examples of trends that would have been hard to anticipate without AI.

Still, the goal isn’t to automate responses to those behaviors. It’s using those insights to reimagine what kinds of public spaces people may need in the future, especially as patterns of connection and isolation shift.